Cooperative Superintendency Program
The Cooperative Superintendency Program (CSP) offers a doctoral degree (Ed.D.) within the Educational Leadership and Policy Department of the highly ranked College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. The CSP is at the forefront of preparing education leaders to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s public education system. Our dedicated faculty and intensive coursework maintain our position among the top-rated superintendency preparation programs in the nation.
Our program seeks to attract leaders with outstanding professional readiness and prepare them for executive-level positions, including:
- Superintendents of school districts
- Chief executives in state education agencies
- Directors in education service centers or laboratories
- Executive-level management posts in large cities or suburban districts
Program Features
- Practitioner-focused curriculum
- Real world, real-time application
- Cohort-model, student collaboration, shared learning
- Completion in 30 months (63 hours of coursework, 69 with dissertation hours)
- Face-to-face contact with renowned faculty focused on equity and excellence
- Flexible scheduling for current and aspiring public school executives
- Strong regional, state, national, and international alumni network
Key Competencies
- Leadership for Equity and Excellence
- Strategic Thinking and Planning
- Policy and Governance
- Human Relations
- Law and School Finance
- District-Level Operations
This program starts in the Summer semester only. You must select the “Summer” semester in the ApplyTexas application. If you apply to the wrong semester or incorrect program track in the Educational Leadership & Policy department in the ApplyTexas application, you could be subject to additional application fees. Students will need to take the Texas Examinations of Educators Standards (TExES) Superintendent exam in order to become certified in Texas. Our graduates’ passing rates typically exceed 97%. Learn more about certification requirements on the Texas Education Agency's website.
Faculty
 Amanda BrownsonAssistant Professor of PracticeExperienced school finance administrator who focuses on ways state aid systems and school district budget practices can be improved to best leverage resources toward improving services for students. |
 Norma Cantú, J.D.Ken McIntyre Professor for Excellence in School LeadershipWith a background as assistant secretary of education for Civil Rights in the Clinton Administration, she teaches topics in civil rights and the intersection of law and policy in education. |
 Joshua ChildsAssistant ProfessorExamines collaborative approaches involving community organizations and stakeholders that improve academic achievement and reduce opportunity gaps for students. |
 Kelly CrookAssociate Professor of PracticeExperienced superintendent who focuses on how social, cultural, and political contexts in education impact school district administrators and their ability to serve all students. |
 Paul CruzProfessor of PracticeExperienced urban school superintendent and executive leader who focuses on social justice and high academic success for all students, school leadership, and equity in educational opportunities. |
 David E. DeMatthewsAssociate ProfessorFocuses on urban school and district leadership, inclusive practices for students with disabilities, and school improvement with an emphasis on addressing inequities in classrooms, schools, and communities. |
 Terrance GreenAssociate ProfessorExamines principals and school-community engagement/community development, and issues of educational equity and opportunity. |
Sheila GuzmanAssistant Professor of PracticeInterests include curriculum and instruction, educational administration, bilingual/bicultural education, principalship preparation, and public school executive leadership. |
 Jennifer Jellison HolmeProfessor, Graduate AdvisorFocuses on the politics and implementation of educational policy with an emphasis on school reform, equity and diversity in schools. |
 Huriya JabbarAssociate Professor, EPP Doctoral Program CoordinatorExamines the social and political dimensions of market-based reforms and privatization in education, including school choice and decision-making in K-12 and higher education contexts. |
 Rubén D. OlivárezL. D. Haskew Centennial Professor in Public School AdministrationAdvocates for social justice and equal educational opportunities for all students, and stresses the importance of teachers in education and principals as a key to school effectiveness. |
 Pedro ReyesAshbel Smith Professor of Education PolicyFocuses on school conditions that foster high academic success for children of poverty, stratification of learning opportunities for children of color, and on state policy that facilitates student success across the education pipeline. |
 Sylvia R. ReynaAssistant Professor of PracticePrepares school district executives to lead socially just and equitable learning centers focused on academic excellence for all students. |
 Jeanne SpencerLecturerFocuses on school and district leadership and management impacting achievement, social-emotional development, and inclusiveness of students with special needs while examining professional development and decision-making practices for fostering excellence and equity. |
 Sarah WoulfinAssociate ProfessorUses lenses from organizational sociology to study how district administrators, school leaders, and teachers implement educational reform. |
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